Questions and Answers to Addendum 2 TB Luzon app hw.pdf

Responses to questions for Addendum #2 Tuberculosis (TB) Luzon and National Capital Region (NCR) Activity

Questions Responses

1. The USAID/Philippines Mission is requesting the submission of concept papers from international and local organizations, institutions, and nonprofit and for-profit entities.

C.1 Eligible Entities This Addendum is unrestricted (full and open). All entities noted in subject APS may apply. Please refer to the APS for additional information.

APS Universal

Health Care Project

C.1 Eligible Entities

USAID seeks maximum competition for all awards, in which case U.S. and non-U.S. public, private, for-profit, and nonprofit organizations, as well as institutions of higher education, and nongovernmental organizations will generally be eligible to submit a concept paper under each addendum.

However, under one or more addenda, eligibility may be restricted to local

Philippine entities or other entities to foster capacity of local organizations.

Regardless of eligibility, applicants are encouraged to prioritize local labor for positions at every level and department in their submissions.

Each addendum will specify and define eligibility. Regardless of eligibility, concept papers must be from a legally recognized organizational entity under applicable law, legally registered in a country within geographic code

937 (the United States, the recipient country, and developing countries other than advanced developing countries, but excluding any country that is a prohibited source per ADS 310.3.1.1). Concept papers from individuals will not be accepted nor reviewed.

Applicants need not be from a 937 country to be eligible as long as the applicant is not otherwise restricted by statute, regulation, Agency policy, or administrative determination (i.e., suspension and debarment) from receiving assistance.

With reference to above, would an INGO (international non-governmental organization) with a registration to operate in the Philippines meet the definition of a legally recognized organizational entity under applicable law, legally registered in a country with geo code 937, as mentioned in the APS, C1, page 20, and thus be eligible to submit a concept note under addendum

2?

2. Can USAID confirm that offerors can design the cover page so long as it includes the information on the Standard Cover Page (Attachment 1 of the

APS)?

Do not alter the cover page.

3. 3. Under the UHC APS, USAID notes the requirement below for the Management and Staffing Plan. Would it be possible to specify the amount of detail required in order to describe the roles of all proposed staff? This could potentially take up quite a bit of space, leaving little room for the additional Management Plan requirements, especially the roles of partners and how resources will be managed.

“State specifically and justify the composition and organizational structure of the entire country-based activity team. It should describe the role of all technical and operational staff, especially key personnel.”

Applicants must determine the amount of detail required based on their understanding of the issues and consistent with their technical approach while remaining within the page limits.

4. Under the UHC APS, the requirements for the Institutional Capability section do not specify whether partner capabilities should be included.

Please advise if we should also describe partner capabilities and, if yes, whether the space limit can be increased to include these descriptions.

For the concept note submission, describe the institutional capability only of the applicant.

5. Is it possible to include an Acronyms page as an Annex or next to the Cover page (outside of the page limit requirement)?

Published in first round of questions: Applications for all previously issued and future addenda under the UHCP APS may include a list of abbreviations limited to one page, which will not be counted in the page limits.

6. Could USAID provide more information on the “matching grant” aspect of this opportunity, highlighted below? For example, are all new and local partners required to provide “matching grants”?

“Under the TB Luzon activity, USAID will partner with an array of new and local partners (ie. civil society, faith-based organizations, private sector service delivery providers, and non-traditional partners) to implement locally generated, context-specific solutions through a matching grant.” (Page 6)

If required, cost-share or matching will be decided during co-creation.

7. Could USAID provide more information on the “TB Commitment Grants (TCG)” mechanism opportunity, highlighted below? For example, does USAID intend TB Luzon Activity to establish a TCG mechanism to select LGUs, or support the selection of LGUs for the current and/or future TB Implementation Framework Agreement (TIFA) Project?

“The activity will support TB Commitment Grants (TCG) to select LGUs to increase local ownership and accountability and to accelerate progress towards TB elimination at the local level.” (Page 10)

The TB Luzon activity is independent of any other activities using TB Commitment Grants.

Details of the TCG fund for TB Luzon, such as the number of grants, amounts, and subrecipients, will be decided during co-creation. Applicants should describe how they would use TCGs to help LGUs strengthen service delivery.

8. 8. Could USAID advise if it is possible to include the procurement of laboratory equipment or supplies in the TB Luzon Activity design?

Yes.

9. In section IV. Technical, Strategic, and Geographic Areas of Emphasis, the "Burden" paragraph on page 4 states that "the island of Luzon is home to more than 50 percent of estimated Filipinos living with TB," while later requesting that the "TB Luzon Activity will target regions with the highest TB burden and focus interventions to address 70 percent of the country’s total

TB Luzon activity will support the USAID TB roadmap coverage to target at least 70 percent of the total burden. Applicants will have to propose the priority sites that will be able to achieve this objective.

disease burden." Kindly confirm if both statements are correct. Also, please confirm if the TB Luzon Activity is expected to cover all eight regions in Luzon, or if not, how many regions the TB Luzon Activity will cover over the course of five years.

Applicants will need a technical approach that meets the Addendum goals and objectives, which may include efforts in all regions of Luzon or a subset of those regions.

From the APS: Describe the geographic locations and site selection criteria or identify the regions, provinces, or cities you are proposing to operate under these proposed interventions.

10. Section V. Sustainability and Local Partnerships, page 6, refers to the implementation of "locally generated, context-specific solutions through a matching grant." Under IR 1.3 on page 7, USAID also refers to the engagement of patient support groups and civil society organizations to empower TB clients in their treatment journey. Separately, USAID refers to TB Commitment grants to select Local Government Units under IR 3.1 on page 10. Could USAID clarify how much total funding is expected to be allocated for all types of grants under the TB Luzon Activity?

There is no prescribed amount for allocation to local grants and working with local partners. As stated in the APS, a strong concept paper will also include a partnerships strategy or plan that incorporates local partners and alliances.

11. Paragraph IR 2.4 on page 9 describes the importance of TB prevention and control in congregate settings. Please clarify if the TB Luzon Activity is expected to work in congregate settings across the entire TB cascade of care.

a. In addition, could USAID clarify whether congregate settings refer to prisons and jails, or other settings such as factories, boarding schools, etc.?

Following the WHO definition, congregate settings are a range of contexts and facilities where people are living in proximity to one another, often in large numbers. Examples of congregate settings include facilities such as prisons, refugee camps, nursing homes, transitional housing and university campus housing.

12. In section VII, page 11, USAID describes requirements for project monitoring, evaluation, and learning. Please confirm if the TB Luzon Activity applicants are required to provide a description of the proposed monitoring, Not required evaluation, and learning framework, activities, and indicators in the concept paper. If yes, please confirm that this should be included in the technical approach section of the concept note.

13. Section C.5 on page 14 states that “[a]applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) or show evidence of a submitted application for a UEI when submitting a concept paper under this addendum.” Could USAID please confirm that this requirement only applies to the prime applicant at the concept paper stage? In addition, could USAID please confirm if it would be appropriate to provide this information within Section B (Organization Information) of the Concept Cover Page?

The applicant must have a UEI at the time of submission of the concept note. It must be registered in SAM before award. Sub-recipients must have a UEI before receiving an award.

Inclusion of UEI in the cover page is not necessary.

14. Section D, page 15, refers to a “minimum number of highly experienced technical staff.” Please provide additional information on how USAID defines highly experienced technical staff in terms of years of experience.

Applicants must determine for themselves what constitutes highly experienced technical staff.

15. The list of USAID/Philippines TB related projects in Annex A includes the TB LON Mental Health Activity (2023) - Asia on page 19. Could USAID provide additional information on the referenced activity?

Refer to https://www.projecthope.org/program/tuberculos is/

16. Please confirm if the TB Luzon Activity is expected to conduct direct TB service delivery activities.

Yes.

17. In section D.2 of the UHCP APS, page 24, USAID requests that the Management and Staffing Plan specify the estimated amount of time each staff member will devote to the activity or specific components within the activity. Please clarify if this information is only required for Key Personnel positions.

For all positions, the applicant must state if the position is full time or part time, and if part time, what is the LOE, e.g, 50%, or 80% if working 4 days a week.

https://www.projecthope.org/program/tuberculosis/ https://www.projecthope.org/program/tuberculosis/